senator john mccain and other republicans are not satisfied by rice's answers. they are calling for a select committee investigation. now, as for the fiscal cliff, if lawmakers can't agree to a deal by the first of the year, economists say eventually the country could slip back into another recession. erica? >> so many people focused on that date. thank you. >>> at 17 minutes past the hour, here's carl. >> today authorities are looking into that horrific thanksgiving day pile-up in texas that involved at least 140 people. two people were killed, at least 100 others injured. two heroes emerged. tom costello had their story. >> reporter: it took more than nine hours to clear two miles of twisted wreckage on i-10 in east texas. two dead, a husband and wife. their suv crushed by an 18-wheeler. >> this semi was up in the air, higher than the back of my trailer. it's like he was jumping around. he was in the air, airborne, taking these cars with him. >> reporter: police credit good samaritans with helping to save lives. katie is a nurse who rushed to help another fami